Folding stand.



A. Z. POLHAMUS.

FOLDING STAND.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1916.

Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET] ET-icons A. Z. POLHAMUS.

FOLDING STAND. v 7' APPLICATION FILED JULY 20.1916.- 1,302,703-. Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ms NoRms PETERS co., Pnomurua, wumm: 10M. 04 c,

ALBERT z. :PoLHAMUs, or some WAYNE, I DIANA. i

ronnme swam).

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919 Applicationfiled July 20, 1916. Serial No. 110,260. j i i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT Z. POLHAMUS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Treehaven, Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Stands, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding stands, and has for its object the provision of a simple and'efficient stand adaptedto be folded into compact form, and one which is adjustable to varying sizes. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Anembodiment ofmy invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which--- Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a stand embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental plan view of one corner of the stand.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental section of the same taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4% is a plan view of a joint in one of the side bars. l

Fig. 5- is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4. n

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental view of a corner of the stand in elevation.

Fig. 7 is an end view of a part of the table top partially folded; and, 1 Fig. 8 is an endview of a portion of the table top shown in unfolded condition.

My invention is adaptable to stands and tables of the portable type. i It is particularly useful to campers, automobilists, travelers, inn-keepers, and the like. The stand is preferably provided with a top, but may be used just as a skeleton frameonlegs,

when so desired, for supporting numerous articles, such as trunks, suit-cases, and the like.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, I provide a substantially rectangular frame of any suitable material, the frame shown is composed entirely of angle bars connected together. The sides and ends of the frame shown are made up of three pieces of angle bars secured together, but when so desired, these sides and ends may be made of more or less parts than that shown, and may be made without being extensible, when so desired. The sides, as shown, each comprise two end pieces 10, anda central piece 11. Each of the end pieces is provided with a pin 12 which depends downwardly, and is provided with threads, upon which thumb nuts 13 arefitted. The central part 11 is provided with a longitudinal slot 14, which is engaged by both of the pins 12 in one sideof the frame. Withthis construction it will be seen that by loosening the thumb nuts 13 on both sides of the frame, that the end pieces 10 may be moved away from and toward eachother to lengthen and shorten the frame. Alsothat when the frame is brought to the desired length, the nuts. 13 can each be tightened, and lock the frame in this particular length. The end bars are shown as being made up of end pieces 15 and central pieces 16 which are connected togetherby means of slots 17, pins 18 and thumb nuts 19, in the same manner that the side members are secured together. The end pieces areextensibleso thatthe table or stand may be.

formed in different widths by adjusting the end pieces. At each corner of the frame is provided a leg which is pivoted to a suitable portion of the frame, such as the end pieces 15 by rivets 21, or their equivalent. Each rivet 21 is ailiXed in such a manner thatthe legs 20 arefree to move on said rivets. Each of the legs is provided with two braces 22,

clearly indicated in Figs.1and 2. With this arrangement, by loosening the thumb nuts 26, the braces 22 can be folded downwardly onto their corresponding legs, and the latter moved on their pivotal points 21 up against the bottom of the end pieces of the frame. In order to permit the legs to fold entirely against the bottom of the end pieces of the frame, the legs are provided with notches 27 which engage the pins 25 in the end pieces, see Fig. 6. The pivotal points of the legs are shown as being bolts 28, having thumb nuts 29 thereon.

When the device is used for a stand or table, I preferably provide a table top which is adapted to loosely rest on the legs 30 of the angle bars. of the frame. The table top is preferably formed of wood strips secured together in a manner which will be referred to presently. The' table top is preferably formed of material thinner than the upstanding legs 31 of the angle bars in the frame, so that the upper edge portions of the legs '31 of the angle bars form a stop 32, Fig. 1, to prevent articles from easily rolling off of the table when the latter is not setting level, or subject to vibrations or movements. The table top is preferably formed of somewhat narrow strips 33 of wood, or the like, and secured together by straps 34, or their equivalent, and preferably of a flexible material. The straps 34 are secured to the strips 33 by glue or other suitable adhesives, or in any other desired manner. Alternate edges 35 of the strips 33 are placed together insecuring such strips to the straps 34, and the other alternate edges 36 of the strips are secured to the straps 34 at distances apart corresponding to twice the. thicknesses of said strips, so that when the strips 33 are folded, as indicated in Fig. 7, the sides of said strips will fold close together. This provides means for folding the top into Very compact form. Since the straps 34 are of flexible material, the edges 36 of the strips 33 will be brought close together When the table top is placed on the frame,,as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 8. When the table top is extended, as shown in these two figures, the strap 34 at the edges 36 of the strips will form loops 37, substantially as indicated in Fig. 8.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and changes as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A stand comprising a top made up of a plurality of slats secured together at their edges, some of said slats being adapted for folding over on other of said slats to decrease the size of said top, and a frame made up of end and side bars with said bars having portions extending under and portions extending up around the edges of the top and said side bars being adjustable so that the end bars may always engage the ends of the top and hold the slats thereof against spreading apart when the top is full size and when some of the slats are folded as above mentioned to reduce the size of the top. 4

2. In combination, a stand top comprising a plurality of slats; flexible members secured to one side of the stand top with loops in lengths substantially twice the thickness of said slats in the flexible members at one alternate set of cracks between the slats and no loops at the other set of alternate cracks between the slats, said members being adapted to permit folding some of the slats together to form a top of smaller size than when all of said slats are unfolded; frame sides under the ends of said slats; and frame ends secured to said frame sides and having portions engaging the outermost of said slats, said frame sides being adjustable in length for maintaining the frame ends against the outermost slats when the stand top is partly folded and when the latter is entirely unfolded.

3. A stand top comprising a plurality of a slats in edge to edge relations; and flexible members secured to said slats, said flexible members being disposed in loops atone set of alternate pairs of adjacent edges of said slats in lengths substantially equal to twice the thickness of said slats and having no loops at the other set of alternate pairs of adjacent edges of said slats permitting each intermediate slat to fold with its top flat against the top of the next adjacent slat at one edge and its bottom to fold flat against the bottom of the next adjacent slat at its other edge.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 14th day of July, A. D. 1916.

ALBERT z. PoLi-iAMUs.

' copiel ot this patent may be obtained for nve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

